So this week has been pretty lightweight at work. We have limited lessons and parent conferences so I have had a lot of time on my hands. I've been writing incessantly. A good thing, I think. I have also been studying English grammar during my office hours. Today I almost fell asleep over a grammar workbook. It's really difficult to commit to studying grammar because I'm so desperate to learn Japanese. Quite frankly, I'm pretty good at grammar and I teach it everyday.
I suck at Japanese but it would be super anti swag to study/practice my Japanese at work. I have a great coworker who is so generous with her knowledge. Honestly, she has taught me half he vocabulary I know. The alphabets, learning to write them rather, is taxing. It's a ton of practice and when I get home from work the last thing I want to do is writing drills. I would prefer to write what is on my heart. I'm still trying to find balance with that. I'm aware that it is just a out me compromising with my own priorities.
I stayed up all night last night watching Vampire Diaries. I don't consider that a point of compromise lol...
Also while I have your attention...I hate my hair right now. It is such a fail. I never really combed my hair that much when I was back home but now, I can't remember the last time I put a comb to it. Let me put it in perspective for you...I didn't even bring a comb to Japan.
In my defense, I wash my hair every other day but...its getting pretty gangster up there.
Anywho...this was a lunch break blog so I'm headed back to practice grammar and write in secret.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
When I Think of Home...
Back from Suwa...had a great time. I always have fun with Olivia though...so I expected that :) Somehow we managed to get addicted to Vampire Diaries in 2 episodes...and we can't stop watching. Of course that led to a series of vampire fantasies. I forced Oli to watch the Underworld series with me. Actually, this weekend was filled with addictions because now i'm addicted to the song Man Down by Rihanna AND the video.
Leaving was mildly depressing. It would be so much easier if my close friends in Japan were closer, but I suppose I didn't come here for easy. After all, I just left everything familiar to me and came to a foreign country. So Oli, in our mutual sadness said, "when 'home' is 'people' then homesickness is leaving them on a bus". It occurred to me that home for me IS exactly that, and perhaps it always has been. It's not really the street I live on, or the house I lived in that I miss, it's the people that made those places special. My mom and sister and the rest of my family, and my dearest and best that made my experiences special, that's what I miss the most.
So maybe the homesickness that was projected unto us as inevitable when we got here is in fact, inevitable. I'm not like, jump off Tokyo Tower homesick, but maybe what is happening is the realization that I actually live in Japan. No, it hasn't sunken into my cerebral until now. Still so many things to do and see and perhaps the excitement of those things will hold out a little while longer...I'm thinking like...9 months? Lol! I have tons to be happy about here and all this homesick talk comes in the wake of recurring separation anxiety. When I think about my time here and how long I'll stay, strangely enough, my next series of thoughts (interrupted by vampire fantasies OF COURSE) is where will I go next.
Love,
Gypsy
Leaving was mildly depressing. It would be so much easier if my close friends in Japan were closer, but I suppose I didn't come here for easy. After all, I just left everything familiar to me and came to a foreign country. So Oli, in our mutual sadness said, "when 'home' is 'people' then homesickness is leaving them on a bus". It occurred to me that home for me IS exactly that, and perhaps it always has been. It's not really the street I live on, or the house I lived in that I miss, it's the people that made those places special. My mom and sister and the rest of my family, and my dearest and best that made my experiences special, that's what I miss the most.
So maybe the homesickness that was projected unto us as inevitable when we got here is in fact, inevitable. I'm not like, jump off Tokyo Tower homesick, but maybe what is happening is the realization that I actually live in Japan. No, it hasn't sunken into my cerebral until now. Still so many things to do and see and perhaps the excitement of those things will hold out a little while longer...I'm thinking like...9 months? Lol! I have tons to be happy about here and all this homesick talk comes in the wake of recurring separation anxiety. When I think about my time here and how long I'll stay, strangely enough, my next series of thoughts (interrupted by vampire fantasies OF COURSE) is where will I go next.
Love,
Gypsy
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Funny How Time Flies...
It has been a quick couple of weeks...time is starting to fly by. When I first arrived in Japan, time moved so slowly. I think partly because of the earthquake/tsunami, and partly because this experience was super brand new. Now, before I know it, two weeks have passed. I am not complaining but I'm definitely trying to find a groove to fall into with this blog. I hate that so much time passes before I update.
So...hmmm, what's new...what have I been up to...there was a Jamaica festival in Tokyo that I went to a couple of weekends back with my friend Sarah. Had a great time and met some Jamaicans that I think will be great connects in the future. I ate some jerk chicken and some ackee and saltfish! I really couldn't believe that. My mom laughed so hard when i told her that! The Japanese are fascinated by Jamaican culture and lifestyle. Reggae sell off a Japan! You should have seen these girls dancing?! It was insane. Some of them could have stayed home but their affection for dancehall was inspiring. What else...?
I find myself typing furiously on my iPhone while traveling. Usually you can catch me on my five minute commute trying to capture a portion of an idea before I get to work. Other times, I have more time...on the train to Tokyo, or more recently to Yokohama, and so I write constantly. Instant gratification.
Right now, I'm on the bus to Suwa to visit my dearheart Owhibia (Oli). I'm really excited to visit her. She comes to Tokyo ALL the time, and it is not an easy trip. AND she has been to Hotes Magotes (my hood...aptly named by Oli) several times. We are going to have so much fun and I can barely contain myself on this bus. We will skateboard, and eat CoCo curry, and shop, which is absolutely what we do best together, and explore Suwa, and maybe onsen it up...(hint hint Oli lol).
I started this journey at 5:00am! It takes about 90 minutes to get to Tokyo and about 2.5 hours from Tokyo to Suwa. So a great opportunity to get some blog entries done :)
So...hmmm, what's new...what have I been up to...there was a Jamaica festival in Tokyo that I went to a couple of weekends back with my friend Sarah. Had a great time and met some Jamaicans that I think will be great connects in the future. I ate some jerk chicken and some ackee and saltfish! I really couldn't believe that. My mom laughed so hard when i told her that! The Japanese are fascinated by Jamaican culture and lifestyle. Reggae sell off a Japan! You should have seen these girls dancing?! It was insane. Some of them could have stayed home but their affection for dancehall was inspiring. What else...?
I find myself typing furiously on my iPhone while traveling. Usually you can catch me on my five minute commute trying to capture a portion of an idea before I get to work. Other times, I have more time...on the train to Tokyo, or more recently to Yokohama, and so I write constantly. Instant gratification.
Right now, I'm on the bus to Suwa to visit my dearheart Owhibia (Oli). I'm really excited to visit her. She comes to Tokyo ALL the time, and it is not an easy trip. AND she has been to Hotes Magotes (my hood...aptly named by Oli) several times. We are going to have so much fun and I can barely contain myself on this bus. We will skateboard, and eat CoCo curry, and shop, which is absolutely what we do best together, and explore Suwa, and maybe onsen it up...(hint hint Oli lol).
I started this journey at 5:00am! It takes about 90 minutes to get to Tokyo and about 2.5 hours from Tokyo to Suwa. So a great opportunity to get some blog entries done :)
Science
Aah, I bought a folding bike. I got it online and it was really reasonable. One of my students was sweet enough to help me. We got it on amazon for the low low. Japan is a cash society, they use cards but most people use cash. Because of this, you can buy things off Amazon with cash. You order whatever, and take your printed reciept to the convenient store to pay for it. Sugoi ne?! There is some strange new bike science that I'm not aware of that comes with this territory. First of all, all the instructions are in Japanese. Secondly, the pictures are tiny and nondescript. For those reasons, I have had this bike for almost a week and it has no handlebars and one pedal lol. It's really disappointing because I wanted to bring it to Suwa but it will be fine. I am carrying the directions around in my purse just in case someone can help me translate. I'll get it right next week.
In the past couple weeks I have been looking for classes in Japanese that suit my schedule. I found a self study course that might be poppin', so I'm very excited about that. I keep saying how difficult Japanese is, but learning the language becomes more necessary everyday. I used this week to memorize hiragana and katakana but kanji is another story. My coworker gave me a kanji book that has been really helpful. So one step at a time. I'm looking forward to being able to have reciprocal conversations, not Japanese-English conversations :) I can't leave Japan until I can speak and understand Japanese so I need to put in some serious work.
In the past couple weeks I have been looking for classes in Japanese that suit my schedule. I found a self study course that might be poppin', so I'm very excited about that. I keep saying how difficult Japanese is, but learning the language becomes more necessary everyday. I used this week to memorize hiragana and katakana but kanji is another story. My coworker gave me a kanji book that has been really helpful. So one step at a time. I'm looking forward to being able to have reciprocal conversations, not Japanese-English conversations :) I can't leave Japan until I can speak and understand Japanese so I need to put in some serious work.
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